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A complicated, but essential, business requirement.

Most state, county, and local governments require companies to have the right licenses and permits in place before they open their doors. There are more than 150,000 filing jurisdictions across the country, all with their own requirements. Depending on your particular industry and where you operate, any number of licenses and permits may apply to your business.

Examples of commonly required licenses and permits include:

General business licenses

Tax registrations

Health permits

State-issued occupational licenses

Liquor licenses

Lottery licenses

Reseller’s licenses

Zoning and land-use permits

Health department permits

Failure to obtain and renew the correct business licenses and permits can result in fines, notices, and forced closure of your business.

Understandably, many business owners find identifying and applying for the right business licenses and permits to be a time-consuming, complicated, and even an overwhelming process.

incorporate.com can help.

incorporate.com can make getting the right business licenses and permits easy. When you order our Business License Compliance Package, our compliance experts go to work identifying your business’s specific license, permit, and tax registration requirements. They gather the right applications and send you a customized packet of forms, instructions, and the right contact information for the relevant licensing authorities. Once you've received your paperwork, you simply fill it out and send it in.

If you do business in multiple locations, we can help you identify the special licenses, permits, and tax registrations required for each.

A business license is a permit or registration required by the federal, state, county, or local government to conduct business. Besides the basic operating
permits, business owners should investigate other possible licensing requirements based on their location and industry. Conducting business without the proper
licenses and permits may result in penalties, notices, and the inability to operate.

Many state, county, and local governments require companies to obtain licenses and permits before they begin to conduct business. To operate a business
successfully, business owners must comply with government licensing requirements. To meet licensing requirements, a business may need to register with the city,
the county, and the state.

Registration requirements often vary by location. For example, some areas require a permit from the fire department before opening for business. Local
authorities can have zoning restrictions that could affect your business. Many companies do not need federal licenses, but companies that do must satisfy these
requirements. We can identify what licensing requirements may apply at the federal, state, county, and local level.

If you sell goods or services, you will likely need to collect and pay state and local sales tax. Almost all states require a retail business to obtain a
sales tax permit, among other licenses. For example, if your business buys and transports cars in Broward County Florida, in addition to a state of Florida business license, you may need to obtain:

Application to Collect And/Or Report Tax

Application for a License as a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Recreational Dealer

What type of license or permit would I need for my home-based business?

Much of the time, home-based businesses need local permits rather than state or federal licenses. The rules governing small businesses vary by location.
Some areas have local signage regulations for installing a sign on your home's exterior. Local zoning laws may require you to obtain a license to run a business
from your home, often called a home occupation permit. For example, if your business sells products on the Internet in El Dorado County, California, you may
need to obtain:

Employers may need to file Income Tax Withholding registration forms. Requirements vary depending on the type and location of the business. For example, if you own a food stand in Orange County, California and have two employees, you may need to obtain the following permits in order to meet California business license requirements:

Order online or call a Business License Specialist at 800-818-6082 (toll-free). Our hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Eastern Time and Saturday - Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.

We gather the license, permit, and tax registration applications identified for your business.

We send you a customized packet of forms, instructions, and the contact information for the licensing authorities.

If your business operates in more than one town, city, county, or state, you may need multiple licenses. Each Business License Compliance Package includes
the business license applications and forms identified for your business in one state, county, and town or city. If you plan to conduct business in multiple
locations, please contact a Business Specialist at 800-818-6082 (toll-free) or 302-636-5440 to order a package that covers more than one location. Additional
fees may apply. Some of the states that are commonly home to firms doing business in more than one state are:

Failure to register your company with the appropriate government agency could result in fines, notices, and the inability to conduct business. Business
owners should identify all licensing requirements that may apply to their business before beginning to operate.

You will most likely need to renew business licenses annually. State and local government offices typically send renewal notices for licenses, permits, and
tax registrations directly to the licensee. If your company receives a notice, consult the instructions from your licensing agency for renewal information.

By entering your telephone number and clicking "Continue," you agree to let us follow up with you at this phone number regarding this and other services, or simply call us at 800-818-6082 to speak to someone who can help you. Your personal information will remain private.

Let's get to it.

No dumb questions.
We know there's a lot to consider when incorporating. That's why our business experts are here to help from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Call
855.236.4043
855.236.4043